Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Sillva seized his speech Monday during the 64th Southern Common Market's Summit in Asunción to underline his Argentine colleague Javier Milei's absence without mentioning him explicitly.
Minutes before passing Mercosur's rotating presidency to Uruguay's Luis Lacalle Pou, Paraguayan head of state Santiago Peña pointed out Monday that during his 6-month tenure achievements had been made, albeit amid painful setbacks that have existed since the alliance was created. In addition, the Colorado ruler once again underlined the importance of fighting corruption and drug trafficking.
During the Summit of Mercosur Heads of State and Associate Members, President Luis Lacalle Pou delivered a compelling speech emphasizing the significance of Mercosur and advocating for greater openness within the bloc. Uruguay is set to assume the pro tempore presidency of Mercosur, and Lacalle Pou used this opportunity to address pressing regional issues and international trade agreements, particularly focusing on the recent political changes in Argentina.
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña admitted that the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) was not going through the best of times as he prepared to host the bloc's Summit in Asunción Monday during which he is to hand over the grou's rotating presidency to Uruguay's Luis Lacalle Pou.
Instead of attending Monday's Mercosur Summit in Asunción, Argentine President Javier Milei chose to spend the weekend in southern Brazil with his friends the Bolsonaros, including the former head of state Jair, with whom he watched their national team eliminated from the Copa America by Uruguay on penalties on Saturday.
Bolivia's Deputy Communications Minister Gabriela Alcón announced Friday that Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva would be arriving in Santa Cruz de la Sierra next Monday for meetings with local authorities and businessmen. It will be the first visit of a foreign head of state since Bolivia's full Southern Common Market membership President Luis Arce Catacora signed into law this week.
Bolivia's Senate passed late Wednesday the landlocked country's full Southern Common Market (Mercosur) membership which is thus up for President Luis Arce Catacora to be signed into law. The Lower House approved the initiative on June 14, which would give the head of state to participate in the July 8 Summit in Asunción from a new perspective.
Former Presidents José Pepe Mujica and Julio María Sanguinetti concurred this week during their appearances at the Latin American Integration Association's (Aladi) Regional Solidarity Integration Forum in Montevideo that Latin American countries needed to be more flexible to tackle the problems of today's world.
Argentine President Javier Milei will not be traveling to Asunción for the upcoming Mercosur Summit in the Paraguayan capital on July 8 in a move to avoid meeting face-to-face with his Brazilian colleague Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, whom he dubbed a corrupt Communist during his campaign last year and who insists an apology is in order. Last week the Argentine leader claimed there was nothing to be sorry for and that he would not go back on telling the truth. Foreign Minister Diana Mondino will represent Milei at the regional bloc's gathering.
Paraguay and Argentina reached an understanding regarding the Paraná-Paraguay River Waterway after Foreign Ministers Rubén Ramírez Lezcano and Diana Mondino gathered in Asunción on the sides of the Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly.